Setting Up Secure Guest WiFi: Benefits and Best Practices

Guest WiFi is becoming widespread in businesses of all sizes. Offering internet access to your visitors may seem trivial, but it has significant benefits and security issues that are important to understand. In this article, we'll explore why it's advantageous to install guest WiFi, how to configure it securely, and the best practices to follow to ensure controlled, security-compliant access.

What is a guest WiFi?

A guest WiFi network is a wireless network dedicated to visitors, customers, and other people external to the company. Unlike the main WiFi, which is reserved for employees and internal equipment, guest WiFi is designed to offer an internet connection without compromising the security of internal data and systems.

The special feature of a guest WiFi network is that it is isolated from the company's main network. This separation helps to limit the risks of cyber-attack, unauthorised access to sensitive data, and to maintain optimum performance for employees.

Why should you set up guest WiFi in the workplace?

Installing guest WiFi in the workplace offers several advantages:

1. Improving visitor reception: Offering Internet access to customers, partners or other visitors shows hospitality and professionalism.
2. Internal data security: A separate network reduces the risk of attacks on your main network.
3. Limiting legal risks: If users perform illegal actions on the main network, the company could be liable. A guest network allows better monitoring and terms of use.
4. Better network performance management: You can allocate limited bandwidth to visitors, ensuring employees keep a fast and efficient connection.

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Steps to set up a secure WiFi Guest network

Setting up a secure guest WiFi requires a few essential steps to ensure that the network is safe, functional, and easy to manage.

Step 1: Choose the right WiFi infrastructure

It's essential to choose an infrastructure capable of managing two distinct networks: the main network and the guest network. Professional routers allow multiple SSIDs and VLAN segmentation, which isolate guest users from company resources.

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Step 2: Separate the guest network from the main network

This prevents users on the guest network from accessing files, printers, and internal devices. VLANs (Virtual LANs) ensure traffic is securely segmented and isolated.

Step 3: Implement security measures

• WPA3 encryption: the latest standard for securing WiFi.
• Strong password: regularly updated and sufficiently complex.
• Temporary access: limit duration of access for visitors.

Step 4: Managing access rights and bandwidth

• Limit bandwidth: avoid guest users consuming too many resources.
• Content filtering: block inappropriate or bandwidth-heavy sites.
• Access duration: define maximum session times.

Good practices for guest WiFi in the workplace

1. Inform visitors of terms of use: via signage or captive login page.
2. Use a captive portal: a welcome page that displays rules and gets user consent.
3. Monitor network activity: detect suspicious behaviour and generate reports.
4. Regularly change the password: reduces risk of old credentials being reused.
5. Educate employees: ensure they redirect visitors to guest WiFi, not the main network.

FAQ on guest WiFi in the workplace

Can we limit user access time?

Yes, most routers allow configuring time limits per session or per day.

What tools are needed to manage guest WiFi effectively?

Tools include captive portals, bandwidth management, and VLAN-enabled equipment. Popular options are Cisco Meraki, Ubiquiti, and Aruba.

How to secure guest WiFi?

Use a strong password, WPA3 encryption, limit internal resource access, and use a captive portal for consent.

Guest WiFi: is it mandatory for all businesses?

No, it's not mandatory, but highly recommended for businesses with regular visitors.

How to connect to guest WiFi?

Users select the network, enter the password, and accept terms of use. Some setups require a name or email via captive portal.

Installing guest WiFi in a company is a simple but essential solution for offering secure Internet access to visitors without compromising internal network security. Following the steps and best practices outlined in this article will enable you to create a high-performance, well-protected guest network.